Georgia Court Decision Protects Absentee Ballot Deadline In Battleground State
The Georgia Supreme Court ruled that absentee ballots arriving after Election Day in Cobb County will not be counted, a decision viewed as a substantial victory for election integrity. This ruling upholds the state’s Election Day deadline and reinforces standards in Georgia, where President Donald Trump is considered a favorite in this high-stakes race.
The issue began when Cobb County, led by Democrats, failed to mail over 3,000 absentee ballots on time due to an influx of last-minute requests. Although the county sent out the ballots with prepaid express return envelopes, a local judge allowed a three-day extension for the ballots to be counted, raising concerns among election integrity advocates.
The Republican National Committee and the Georgia GOP immediately appealed the extension, asserting that Georgia law sets a clear Election Day cutoff for absentee ballots. They argued that the extension could create inconsistencies and undermine the integrity of the voting process.
In a ruling that sided with the RNC, the Georgia Supreme Court ordered that ballots arriving after Election Day be excluded from the count and that these ballots be set aside for potential further review. The decision upholds the state’s established deadline and prevents post-Election Day ballots from being added to the final tally.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley applauded the ruling, saying, “Election Day is Election Day — not the week after.” Many see the decision as a necessary measure to secure transparency in a key state that could significantly impact the presidential election.
As Trump maintains a strong position in Georgia, adherence to deadlines and a clear process are expected to play a vital role in ensuring a fair outcome in the state’s competitive races.
